Best HRM?

1980karen
1980karen Posts: 92 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi there! Have been thinking of investing in a heart rate monitor as I want a more accurate calorie burn reading. The calorie allowance on here is a bit over generous I think (may be wrong). Also when I go to the gym the machines always give me a different reading each time even tho I follow a programme.

Just wanting a bit of advice on which one to buy, can you help?!
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Replies

  • karrianne32
    karrianne32 Posts: 51 Member
    Me too! I tend to eat very few of the MFP exercise cals as I don't trust them. I know the fitbit is supposed to be good, but its more of a step counter than an HRM. I fancy an HRM!
    Will be keeping an eye on this topic :-)
  • kellyw036
    kellyw036 Posts: 58 Member
    I LOOOOVE my Polar F4. I would suggest buying on Amazon to save a few $!
  • eskiadas
    eskiadas Posts: 45 Member
    I agree with the previous post. I have a polar HRM and I love it. I have the FT7!! I bought it off of amazon and it is seriously the best thing I have ever bought. I find the machines at the gym over estimate and MFP underestimates (well for me as least)
    It will make your workouts that much more fun, Lets me know how hard i'm working and gives me an accurate calorie burn. GL :)
  • 1980karen
    1980karen Posts: 92 Member
    I've been looking at the polar f4 on amazon and there are loads of good reviews on it. Quite a reasonable price also quite liked the idea of a pink one!
  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    BestHRM_zps32b0911d.jpg

    I LOOOOVE my Polar F4. I would suggest buying on Amazon to save a few $!

    That's probably a good solid choice as an entry level HRM. If you're just wanting to track calories burned and get the HR to display on fitness equipment I would go with this one.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Anything from Polar, Garmin and Suunto will be good, just find the one that has the features you want.

    On a side note, HRMs are not automatically more accurate. In many cases, cardio machines are as accurate as you can get (assuming they allow you to enter your weight), and in some cases, MFP estimates are dead on.

    Regardless, HRMs, like everything else, are just estimates and not guaranteed to be accurate.
  • mrsg2006
    mrsg2006 Posts: 120 Member
    I just bought the Polar FT7 and can't wait to try it out.
  • ww1900
    ww1900 Posts: 11 Member
    I like my polar ft7; it seems to be recommended a lot on here.

    I wish it would display heart rate and calories (and time if possible) on one screen instead of having to cycle through the three screens. Minor issue.

    make sure the strap is tight enough, and clean it regularly or it loses connection sometimes.
  • ozigal
    ozigal Posts: 173 Member
    I bought an FT7 today because I managed to get it really cheap. Halfords have them on sale at the moment and lots of shops price match.
  • karrianne32
    karrianne32 Posts: 51 Member
    Are HRMs only to work out calories burned during workouts?
    I am confused as to whether an HRM or a fitbit type device is what I need,
    Are there alternatives to the fitbit?
    I would like to know whether the calories I use are the same as MFP allows! Whether cleaning and walking cals are accurate as I don't want to eat cals I haven't earned!
    Any help will be gratefully received!
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    * duplicate post *
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Are HRMs only to work out calories burned during workouts?
    I am confused as to whether an HRM or a fitbit type device is what I need,
    Are there alternatives to the fitbit?
    I would like to know whether the calories I use are the same as MFP allows! Whether cleaning and walking cals are accurate as I don't want to eat cals I haven't earned!
    Any help will be gratefully received!

    HRMs are only good for steady state cardio. Not classes, not lifting, not intervals, not walking, not house work, etc.
  • mellenorris
    mellenorris Posts: 99 Member
    Zillionth vote for Polar FT4. I got mine on bodytronics.com for under $60 after searching for a coupon code last summer!
  • Ultragirl2374
    Ultragirl2374 Posts: 390 Member
    I just got my FT4. I haven't had a chance to rally use it but it seems pretty simple to use
  • hilldiggity
    hilldiggity Posts: 166 Member
    Are HRMs only to work out calories burned during workouts?
    I am confused as to whether an HRM or a fitbit type device is what I need,
    Are there alternatives to the fitbit?
    I would like to know whether the calories I use are the same as MFP allows! Whether cleaning and walking cals are accurate as I don't want to eat cals I haven't earned!
    Any help will be gratefully received!

    HRMs are only good for steady state cardio. Not classes, not lifting, not intervals, not walking, not house work, etc.

    I would disagree that they are not for classes (aerobics, I assume), lifting (you can really get your heart rate pumping lifting weights), intervals (aren't intervals cardio?) and walking (as long as you can walk as fast as you need to get your HRM to count your calories, usually around 120 BPM - estimated).

    As long as what you are doing has your heart rate significantly up, your HRM will count it. Try it out on different exercises. And I recommend using Polar as well!
  • NHoughton13
    NHoughton13 Posts: 303
    I love my Polar FT4 also!!!
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Are HRMs only to work out calories burned during workouts?
    I am confused as to whether an HRM or a fitbit type device is what I need,
    Are there alternatives to the fitbit?
    I would like to know whether the calories I use are the same as MFP allows! Whether cleaning and walking cals are accurate as I don't want to eat cals I haven't earned!
    Any help will be gratefully received!

    HRMs are only good for steady state cardio. Not classes, not lifting, not intervals, not walking, not house work, etc.

    I would disagree that they are not for classes (aerobics, I assume), lifting (you can really get your heart rate pumping lifting weights), intervals (aren't intervals cardio?) and walking (as long as you can walk as fast as you need to get your HRM to count your calories, usually around 120 BPM - estimated).

    As long as what you are doing has your heart rate significantly up, your HRM will count it. Try it out on different exercises. And I recommend using Polar as well!

    You can disagree all you want, doesn't make me wrong.

    HRMs are designed for and thus most accurate during steady state cardio. The less steady state the exercise is (classes, intervals, etc), the less accurate it's going to be. Also, the less cardio the exercise is (lifting), the less accurate it's going to be be.
  • lhgalant
    lhgalant Posts: 101 Member
    I'll be using my PINK Polar FT4 today for the first time and I'm very excited about it. I tried being cheap & purchasing the Pyle HRM first, but after only 1 week, the watch band broke. I got a nice lecture from my husband about how I should have just gone with the FT4 or FT7 like everyone on MFP recommends. Yes, yes, lesson learned. The band appears to be much more comfortable & the watch is definitely more comfortable than the Pyle brand I had.
  • vilo_pjd
    vilo_pjd Posts: 15 Member
    I like my polar ft7; it seems to be recommended a lot on here.

    I wish it would display heart rate and calories (and time if possible) on one screen instead of having to cycle through the three screens. Minor issue.

    make sure the strap is tight enough, and clean it regularly or it loses connection sometimes.

    I am sure some of the polar HRM's can be set to show the features you want.

    You would best speak to a authorised polar retailer for the right model that fulfils your needs.

    I know my cs600 bike model can be setup over infrared connection from the pc.

    Hope this helps
  • Dudagarcia
    Dudagarcia Posts: 849 Member
    Polar FT7
  • alyssa92982
    alyssa92982 Posts: 1,093 Member
    I just received the suunto m2 today and will be trying it out. Was pretty easy to set up and seems basic for what I'm lookin for. I was not happy with the polar I had which was ft4. I think was defective:(
  • 1980karen
    1980karen Posts: 92 Member
    Thanks for the advice guys! It looks like a polar ft4 / ft7. Will start searching the net for the best deals!
    I was thinking of wearing it mainly when running so should be ok.
  • fausto412
    fausto412 Posts: 100 Member
    [/quote]

    You can disagree all you want, doesn't make me wrong.

    HRMs are designed for and thus most accurate during steady state cardio. The less steady state the exercise is (classes, intervals, etc), the less accurate it's going to be. Also, the less cardio the exercise is (lifting), the less accurate it's going to be be.
    [/quote]


    So is there a solution for someone who wants to know calories burned in a class or just walking for example? something more accurate than guesstimates?
  • adream213
    adream213 Posts: 11 Member
    Polar FT7 (husband) and Polar FT40 (me)
  • Danny_Boy13
    Danny_Boy13 Posts: 2,094 Member
    Polar is a good place to start.
  • lindsyrox
    lindsyrox Posts: 257 Member
    If you do much running or biking outside look into getting a watch w/ GPS also. I have the Garmin forerunner 210 and it has HRM and GPS so it tracks my distance, pace, elevation, calories etc etc plus when I load the data to the Garmin Connect website I shows my map and also lets you manage all your data and set goals. LOVE IT.
  • spike90
    spike90 Posts: 704 Member
    I love my Polar FT 7 and I can change the batteries myself! Watch for this as some have batteries that you can't change.
  • Rosegardenia
    Rosegardenia Posts: 53 Member
    bump. because I think my hrm is lying to me and want to know how to most accurately guestimate.
  • aepdx
    aepdx Posts: 218 Member
    I <3 my polar ft7
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member

    You can disagree all you want, doesn't make me wrong.

    HRMs are designed for and thus most accurate during steady state cardio. The less steady state the exercise is (classes, intervals, etc), the less accurate it's going to be. Also, the less cardio the exercise is (lifting), the less accurate it's going to be be.


    So is there a solution for someone who wants to know calories burned in a class or just walking for example? something more accurate than guesstimates?

    no, not really. HRMs are just estimates, and it's really a crapshoot as the whether or not it'll be more accurate than any other estimate.

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